National Republican., 1887-12-24
TERRIBLE VENGEANCE.
A Jealous Husband Has tho Hand OF
His wife Gut or and Sent to Her
fIondon Exphanne.1

Lover.
London Exchanged
After the restoration of Louis Philippe
to the French throne many OF Napoleon's
soldiers were left In comparative poverty.
One Of them, famous general, had a
beautiful daughter whom he wished TO
marry rich, but who fell In love with
poor young man-an under secretary or
something Of that kind. She married, at
her fathers request, rich count, but re-
fused at the wedding ceremony to allow the
ring to be placed upon her left hand, upon
which she wore a ruby, put there by her
lover. Her jealous husband was not loHg
In finding out what was the matter, aud in
terceptlng a letter In which the ardent
young lover claimed Matilda's hand as his
he determined upon an awful revenge.
One night as the celebrated surgeon,
Llstrano, was feturniDg from q profes.
eional vIsit he was captured by party Of
men, bllDdfolded, and taken TO distaut
palace and led through labsrinth of pas.
sageo and rooms. AT last he found himself
In a small chamber furnished with rem lrk-
able luxury, and half lit by an alabAster
lamp hung from the ceiling, The windows
were hermetically sealed, as well as the
curtains OF an alcove at the end OF the
room.
"Doctor." said the man with whom he
now found himself alone, 10 an abrupt;
loud voice, ,.'prepare for your work-an
amputGtion.n
'Where is the patient ?" asked the doc
tor, turning toward the alcove. Tue cur
talus moved slightly, and he heard stllled
sigh.
Prepare, SIR" said the man, convul
siyely.
"But, sir, must see the patient"
"You will zee only the hand you are to
cut off"
The doctor, folding his arms, and look
ing firmly at the other, said "Sir, you
brought me here by force. II you need my
professional assistance | shall do my duty
without csring for or troubling myself
about your secrets; but II you wish to com.
init crime you cannot force me to be your
sccomplice."
"Be content, sir" replied tho other;
''there is no crime In th!s,n aud leading
him to the alcove, he drew from the cur
tain hand. ut is this you are to cut
off,"
The doctor took the hand In his his
lDgers trembled at the touch. 1t was q
lady's hand, small, beautifully nodded, aud
It's pure white set off by magnificent ruby
encircled with diamonds
But" cried the doctor, "there Is no
need Of amputsticn; nothing is
Il. L
''if you refuse will de 1t myself" and,
SIZZLING the hatchet, he drew the hand
toward small table and seemed ab )ut to
strike. The doctor arrested his arm. "Do
your duty, then. DOCTOR"
"Oh, but this Is an atrocious sct,n said
the surgeon.
"What is that to your 1t must be done.
| wish II; madame wishes It also. II nee
essary she will demand It herself. Come,
una IN IN cA io
service"
The doctor, nonplussed and almost faint
iug under the torture OF bis feelings, heard
from the alcove in balf-expiring voice
and an inexpressible accent OF despair and
resignation:
Sir, since you are surgeon -yes-I en-
treat you-let 1t be you, and notch, yes,
you you in mercy !"
"Well, DOCTOR" said the man, "you
or ~"
The resolution OF this man was 50 fright
ful, and the prayer OF the poor lady SO full
OF entreaty and despair, that the doctor
felt that even humanity commanded of him
compliance with the appeal Of the victim.
He took his instruments with a last i'm
ploring look at the unknown, who only
pointed to the hand, and then with sink
first time In his experience his hand
trtmbleo, but the knife was doing It's work.
Ttere was cry from the alcove, aud then
all was silent. Nothing was heard but the
horrid sound OF the operation till the hand
and the saw fell together on the floor.
Lisfranc wore the ruby on his watch
chain, where 1t was seen by the young lover
on his return to Paris, and out OF IT grew o
iuel that led to the disclosure OF the infa-
nous crime The morning after the young
lovers arrival at the capital he WAS pre-.
s.nted by q man In livery With an ebony
box. Opening 1t he discovered bleediug
hnnd-Matilda's-a on 1t q paper with
these words: See how the Countess OF -
Keeps her OATH"